Sangkhla Buri

A Mon town on a reservoir by the Thai–Myanmar border, where Thailand's longest wooden bridge leads through the morning mist to a Mon village; at low water a half-sunken old temple emerges, and Three Pagodas Pass lies to the north.

Sangkhla Buri is a small border district at the far northwestern tip of Kanchanaburi Province, about 220 km from Kanchanaburi town and about 360 km from Bangkok. It sits beside a bay at the northern end of the Khao Laem Reservoir, separated from Myanmar by a single mountain range. When the reservoir was filled in 1984, the old town was submerged, and its Thai, Mon and Karen residents moved to higher ground by the lake to rebuild, creating today's layout on both shores: the Thai town on one side and the Mon village on the other, linked by Thailand's longest wooden bridge. The area sits at a relatively high elevation, and the cool season from November to February is the most comfortable and the most beautiful time, when thick mist blankets the lake at dawn and the bridge drifts in and out of view. From March to May, at the end of the dry season, the water level drops and much of the submerged temple is exposed; in the rainy season (Jun–Oct) the forests are lush and the waterfalls are in full flow, though mountain roads occasionally suffer landslides. Classic itinerary: watch the sunrise and the monks' alms round from the wooden bridge at dawn, then cross to the Mon village to browse the morning market and visit Wat Wang Wiwekaram and the golden Chedi Buddhagaya; in the morning, charter a longtail boat around the lake to see the submerged temple and floating houses; in the afternoon, head about 20 km north to Three Pagodas Pass on the Thai–Myanmar border. On the way back along Highway 323, stop at Khao Laem National Park for the sea of clouds, Kroeng Krawia Waterfall and the Vajiralongkorn Dam; with time to spare, detour to the Pilok mining village and stay a night to see the sea of clouds. Getting there: minibuses from Kanchanaburi take about 4 hours, and there are also direct buses from Bangkok's Northern or Southern bus terminals; in town, walking or renting a motorbike is enough. There are plenty of guesthouses and bamboo raft houses with lake views. Plan for 2 days and 1 night, or 3 days if adding Pilok. This is a border area, so carry your passport for checkpoints.

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